No. 9 Utah State outlasts No. 8 Villanova, advances to face Arizona

SAN DIEGO -- MJ Collins Jr. scored nine of his 20 points in the final four minutes as No. 9 seed Utah State topped eighth-seeded Villanova, 86-76, in the second of Friday's West Region first-round matchups in San Diego.

Utah State (29-6) capped a crucial, 9-0 run late in the second half when Mason Falslev snapped one of his four assists to an open Collins, free after diving to the rim on a well-executed back-cut.

Collins' ensuing basket opened up a seven-point Aggies lead, which Utah...